Plea Seeking Financial Assistance To Lawyers Infected By Or Who Died Due To COVID: Chhatisgarh HC Seeks State Bar Council's Response

The Chhattisgarh High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the State Bar Council, Chhattisgarh on an application moved by the District Bar Association, Bilaspur seeking financial assistance for lawyers who were infected by the COVID-19 pandemic or have suffered death as a result of such infection.

The Bench of Acting Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra also directed the State Legal Services Authority's counsel to obtain instructions from SLSA.

Apart from this, the Court heard another PIL, wherein it was submitted that lawyers and their family members, who were vaccinated at the District Court premises, Bilaspur, and at other places, have neither received any SMS nor any certificate of vaccination.

Therefore, in the plea, it was submitted that they have no proof of being vaccinated.

To this, the Court directed the Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Chhattisgarh to file an affidavit on this issue.

With this, the matter was posted for further hearing on June 29, 2021.

In related news, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court last month sought the response of UT of J&K on a plea filed seeking financial assistance, medical, and life insurance for lawyers who are facing grave financial hardship on account of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry last month wrote to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin seeking financial assistance to the Needy Advocates who are financially suffering due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The Supreme Court Bar Association last month appealed its member lawyers, who are in position to help, to come forward for financial assistance of young and needy members of the bar and their families, who may be facing difficulties amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We definitely owe this much to our brothers in the profession who need help in this unforeseen time of distress," SCBA President Vikas Singh said.

SCBA has in its fold about 18,000 lawyers and till date, there is no institutional social security for its members.

Vikas Singh has donated Rs 50 Lakhs for the purpose.

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